Device for applying stockings and the like

ABSTRACT

A device for aiding physically-handicapped persons to put on stockings comprises a pair of pivotable arms carried at one end of a handle, the arms being curved toward each other and pivotable from a closed position where they enclose the user&#39;&#39;s outstretched foot and leg, to open position to permit the device to be withdrawn from the leg by moving it transversely of the leg. The device also includes retaining means for releasably retaining the gathered stocking on the curved arms in the closed position. The arms are additionally provided with an extension pivotable from a folded closed position to an extended open position to enable the device to be used also for putting on underwear.

United States Patent [191 Weiss 5] Apr. 17, 1973 DEVICE FOR APPLYINGSTOCKINGS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS AND THE LIKE 633,930 12/1949Great Britain ..223/111 [76] Inventor: Karl G. Weiss, 5 Disraeli Street.

Haifa, Isl-a6] Primary Examiner-George H. Krizmanich Attorney-Benjamin JBarish [22] Filed: Dec. 10, 1970 App]. No.: 96,692

US. Cl ..223/1 11 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47j 51/06 [58] Field of Search..223/11l, 110

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,054,279 2/l9l 3 Corley..223/l l 1 3,227,335 l/l966 Minnema et al.... ...223/l ll l,986,07l1/l935 Ruske ..223/l 11 451,182 4/l89l Gaillac ..223/l10 X ABSTRACT Adevice for aiding physicallyhandicapped persons to put onstockings-comprises a pair of pivotable arms carried at one end of ahandle, the arms being curved toward each other and pivotable from aclosed position where they enclose the users outstretched foot and leg,to open position to permit the device to be withdrawn from the leg bymoving it transversely of the leg. The device also includes retainingmeans for v releasably retaining the gathered stocking on the curvedarms in the closed position. The arms are additionally provided with anextension pivotable from a folded closed position to an extended openposition to enable the device to be used also for putting on underwear.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 1 71973 v 3, 727. 812

6 W F x I ego IF 54 2 H31 INVENTOR KRRLGWEISS AT TOR NEY DEVICE FORAPPLYING STOCKINGS AND THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention The present invention relates to a device for aidingphysically-handicapped persons to put on stockings.

2. Description of the Prior Art Persons suffering from arthritis orother ailments wherein they cannot bend their knees experience greatdifficulty in putting on stockings by themselves, and therefore theyusually require the assistance of another person. One device availableon the market to aid such a person includes two sticks each formed witha fastener at one end; the user attaches each fastener to the top of thestocking, and then manipulates the two sticks to pull up the stockingand to draw it over his foot and leg. Such a device, however, isdifficult to manipulate and moreover has a great tendency to tear thestocking.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention provides a devicefor aiding physically-handicapped persons to put on stockings whichdevice is not only easier to manipulate by the user, but also has muchless tendency to tear the stocking. A further object is to provide sucha device with means enabling it also to be used for putting onunderwear.

According to the present invention, the device comprises a handle to beheld at one end by the person using same, and a pair of arms carried bythe handle at its opposite end. The arms are curved toward each otherand are pivotably mounted from a closed position to a fully openposition. In the closed position the arms are adapted to enclose theusers outstretched foot and leg to enable him to put on the stocking. Inthe fully open position, the ends of the arms are spaced apart adistance greater than the width of the users leg, to permit the deviceto be withdrawn from the leg by moving the arms transversely of the leg.The device further includes retaining means for releasably retaining agathered stocking on the arms in the closed position of the arms.

In one described embodiment, the'retaining means are constituted by agroove or hollow depression formed on the outer face of each of thearms. In a second described embodiment, they are constituted by one ormore spring fingers carried on the outer faces of each arm. The groovesor hollow depressions may also be provided in the latter embodiment.

According to a further feature of the invention, each of the armscarries an extension pivotably mounted from a folded closed position toan extended open position toenable the device to be used also as an aidfor putting on underwear.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe description below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

The invention is herein described, somewhat diagrammatically and by wayof example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating one form of device constructedin accordance with the invention,

the device being shown in its fully closed position, which is theposition at the time the stocking is loaded thereon;

FIG. 1a is a section along line a-a of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2 illustrates the use of the device of FIG. 1 in putting on thestocking, the device having been opened slightly to tension the stockingthereon;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating another form ofretaining means for retaining the gathered stocking;

FIG. 4 illustrates the device of FIG. 1 when used for putting onunderwear;

FIG. 5 illustrates a modification in the device of FIG. 1, helpful forremoving the stocking and also for putting on shoes; and

FIG. 6 illustrates another pivoting arrangement for the arms.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS.

The device illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises an elongated handle 2 havinga hand-grip 4 at one end, and a pair of arms 6 and 8 pivotably carriedat the opposite end. The arms are pivotably mounted to a pin 10 which isexternally threaded, at 12, the latter being received in the end ofhandle 2 which is internally threaded, as shown at 14.

For pivotably mounting the arms, each is formed with one or more hingeloops 6', 8' enclosing pin 10. The arms are pivotable on the pin from afully closed position (FIG. 1) to a fully open position, as will bedescribed below.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the arms are retained in position bythreading pin 10 into handle 2 so as to cause the end 2' of the handleto press against the inner loop which flexes sufficiently to pressagainst the remaining loops 6', 8' and thus to retain them in position.In order to release the arms for pivoting, pin 10 is slightly unthreadedfrom threads 14, whereby end 2 of the handle disengages from the loops,freeing the arms for pivoting.

The outer faces of the curved arms 6 and 8 are formed with concave orhollow depressions or grooves 6", 8" so as to releasably retain agathered stocking thereon when the arms are closed.

FIG. 2 illustrates the use of the device in aiding a person who cannotbend his knees to put on a stocking. First, the curved arms 6 and 8 aremoved to their fully closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Astocking S is then gathered on the arms with the toe part facing awayfrom the handle, the stocking being releasable retained by the grooves6", 8". The user then opens the arms slightly (to the partially closedposition illustrated in FIG. 2) to tension the stocking on the arms. Itwill be seen that in this position the curved arms can enclose theoutstretched-foot and leg. The user holds the device outwardly in frontof his outstretched leg, inserts his foot into the toe part of thestocking, and manipulates the device to move the arms upwardly while thestocking is drawn on his leg. During this movement, the gatheredstocking on arms 6 and 8 is drawn off the arms and onto the users footand leg.

When the stocking is drawn up sufficiently high (to about the calf ofthe leg) where the user can reach the top of the stocking with his handhe holds the top of the stocking with one hand. With the other he fullyopens the arms by slightly unthreading pin from threads 14 and pushesthe arms apart to their fully open position. In this position, the endsof the arms are spaced apart a greater distance than the width of theusers leg. The user then withdraws the device from his leg by moving thearms transversely of the leg.

FIG. 3 illustrates the use of spring-fingers 18 on the arms (e.g. 8) forreleasably retaining the gathered stocking on the closed arms. Springfingers 18 may be provided in lieu of, or in addition to, the hollowdepressions 6", 8" of the FIG. 1 embodiment.

According to an optional feature, the arms 6 and 8 may also includeextensions 22 and 24 pivotable (at 22', 24') from a folded closedposition illustrated in FIG. 1, to an extended open position illustratedin FIG. 4, to enable the device to be used as an aid for putting onunderwear. Thus, with extensions 22 and 24 in their open position, thearms are in effect extended so that when the arms are in their workingposition, they retain the underwear thereon and also can enclose bothlegs of the user. The device can then be used for putting on underwearby loading the underwear on the extended arms and passing same, with theunderwear, over both legs, in substantially the same manner as describedwith respect to FIG. 2 for putting on a stocking. The device is removedin the same manner, by opening the arms and moving the devicetransversely of the legs.

FIG. 5 illustrates a further optional feature, namely the inclusion ofan extension 4' instead of the hand-grip 4. This extension facilitatesthe removal of the stocking or underwear. To remove the stocking (orunderwear), the user draws it downwardly by hand to the end of hisreach, manipulates the device to engage the top of the stocking (orunderwear) with the juncture 25 of handle 2 and extension 4', and pushesdown to withdraw it. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, extension 4' is shownin the form of a shoe-horn, so that the device can also be used tofacilitate putting on a shoe.

FIG. 6 illustrates a variation in the pivotable mounting arrangement ofthe two arms 6 and 8. In FIG. 6 the two pivotable arms 26 and 28 arepivotably mounted to pin 30 by means of a loop or sleeve 26', 28'carried by each arm. Preferably, the lower sleeve 28 for arm 28 is fixedto pin 30, so that only arm 26 is actually pivotable, to open and closethe arms. The upper end of pin 30 is fixed (e.g. by threading) in thelower end of handle 2, and a spring 34 is interposed between the uppersleeve 26' and the end of handle 2. In addition, the two contigous facesof the sleeves 26', 28' are formed with inter-engaging teeth 36. Spring34 normally biases sleeve 26' against sleeve 28', so that the teeth arenormally in engagement.

In FIG. 6, the teeth 36 are shown as a right-angle teeth, i.e. eachhaving a slanted face 36' and a rightangle face 36". When the arms arepivoted in the opening direction the slanted faces are effective and itis not necessary to manually pull-up sleeve 26'. When the arms arepivoted in the closing direction, the rightangle faces 36" of the teethare effective to block pivoting which requires sleeve 26 to be graspedand to be pulled upwardly to separate the teeth before the arms can bepivoted.

Teeth 36 could be V-shaped, i.e. with both faces slanted, which wouldpermit the arms to be pivoting in either direction without requiring thesleeve to be raised manually.

In the illustrated embodiments, the plane through the arms (e.g. 6,8) isshown at about to the longitudinal axis of the handle. In some cases itmay be desirable, for convenience of manipulation, to have this angleslightly larger, to about C.

Many modifications, variations and other applications of the illustratedembodiments will be apparent.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for aiding physically handicapped persons to put onstockings and the like, comprising, an-

elongated handle to be held at one end by the person using the device, apair of arms carried by the handle at its opposite end, said arms beingcurved towards each other and pivotably mounted with respect to eachother from a closed position to an open position, retaining means forreleasably retaining a gathered stocking on said curved arms when in itsclosed position, and an extension carried by each of said arms, each ofsaid extensions being pivotably mounted from a folded closed position toan extended open position to enable the device to be used also as an aidin putting on underwear. I

2. A'device according to claim 1 wherein said retaining means includes ahollow depression formed on the outer face of each of said curved arms.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said retaining means includesa spring finger carried on the outer face of each of said arms.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said handle includes anextension and at least one arm includes a loop fixed at the end of saidarm and pivotable on said handle extension, said handle furtherincluding a sleeve movable thereon to retain and to release saidpivotable arm.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein both said arms carry ratchetteeth on contiguous surfaces thereof, there being a spring normallybiasing said arms together to bring their teeth into engagement forretaining the two arms in position.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said ratchet teeth includeslanted faces effective to permit pivoting when the arms are pivoted inthe opening direction and right-angle faces effective to block pivotingwhen the arms are pivoted in the closing direction.

1. A device for aiding physically handicapped persons to put onstockings and the like, comprising, an elongated handle to be held atone end by the person using the device, a pair of arms carried by thehandle at its opposite end, said arms being curved towards each otherand pivotably mounted with respect to each other from a closed positionto an open position, retaining means for releasably retaining a gatheredstocking on said curved arms when in its closed position, and anextension carried by each of said arms, each of said extensions beingpivotably mounted from a folded closed position to an extended openposition to enable the device to be used also as aN aid in putting onunderwear.
 2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said retaining meansincludes a hollow depression formed on the outer face of each of saidcurved arms.
 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said retainingmeans includes a spring finger carried on the outer face of each of saidarms.
 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said handle includes anextension and at least one arm includes a loop fixed at the end of saidarm and pivotable on said handle extension, said handle furtherincluding a sleeve movable thereon to retain and to release saidpivotable arm.
 5. A device according to claim 4, wherein both said armscarry ratchet teeth on contiguous surfaces thereof, there being a springnormally biasing said arms together to bring their teeth into engagementfor retaining the two arms in position.
 6. A device according to claim5, wherein said ratchet teeth include slanted faces effective to permitpivoting when the arms are pivoted in the opening direction andright-angle faces effective to block pivoting when the arms are pivotedin the closing direction.